'Crossover respect' for Donaire in Rigondeaux fight

ABS-CBN News

MANILA – A sensational victory over Cuban fighter Guillermo Rigondeaux will help Nonito Donaire Jr. get more respect, according to a boxing analyst.

RingTV editor Doug Fischer said the four-division champion Donaire has already established a reputation having defeated the likes of Vic Darchinyan, Fernando Montiel and Toshiaki Nishioka.

“I think Donaire’s body of work, so far, is something special; and I believe that he’s on a hall-of-fame trajectory,” said Fischer in RingTV.

“He’s not there yet, but I think he’s put down a solid foundation with stoppage victories over Darchinyan, Fernando Montiel and Toshiaki Nishioka.”

But Fischer said the unbeaten Rigondeaux, who is being set up for an April 13 unification title bout against Donaire, is a formidable foe.

“If Donaire beats Guillermo Rigondeaux, an undefeated beltholder and two-time Olympic gold medalist who has his own cult of hardcore fans who swear the Cuban lefty is a combination of Willie Pep and Sandy Saddler – I think he’ll take another step toward gaining crossover respect,” he said.

Top Rank promotions is finalizing the details of the bout between Donaire and Rigondeaux.